I think there is something like 30 total points that seperates the two players in the 22 matches they've played, which is pretty incredible. If you take away Rafa's RG 08 win, its basically equivalent.

The point is, almost nothing seperates the two, and hence tiny little variations or surface changes can swing the match one way or the other. A point here, a point there, etc.

From the matchup that i've seen, my general observations is that the biggest factor in deciding the match is how well the surface responds to Rafa's spin (both serve and topspin). The next most important factor is speed. Fed prefers faster surfaces where Rafa can't run as many balls down, and consequently he doesn't have to go for as much and makes fewer unforced.

The final one is important, but we haven't seen it too much of a factor. Namely weather. Generally speaking, i'd imagine Fed would prefer as little of it as possible, and Rafa as much as possible (wind, hail, blazing sun, tornado, whatever).

I'd say that if the outdoor hardcourt was very fast and didn't respond well to Rafa's spin (say the USO), i'd pick Federer (at least in his prime) over Rafa as he is a more gifted and natural hardcourt player in general. However if its slow and there is bad weather, i'd be inclined to give Rafa the edge.

Depends on Olderer's form and whether Nadal can at least play as well as he did during WTF or even better at US Open. Overall I'll say Olderer wins a GS and MS, both on hard courts. And Nadal will clinch Paris and London as well as HC masters and 2 on clay. USO and WTF are too far away and too open to predict.

Depends on Olderer's form and whether Nadal can at least play as well as he did during WTF or even better at US Open. Overall I'll say Olderer wins a GS and MS, both on hard courts. And Nadal will clinch Paris and London as well as HC masters and 2 on clay. USO and WTF are too far away and too open to predict.

It worked out nicely that Rafa lost the WTF Final, because if he had won the WTF he'd not be as motivated in future WTFs. This way if he wins the WTF in future years he's got the 2010 Final appearance to show that him winning the WTF isn't a fluke. Whereas if he had won the 2010 WTF and then not done well in future years then people would call his win a fluke

Like it or not, Federer IS the reason for these outrageous predictions for Nadal

For Fed winning 3 slams a year in back to back years only happened once, and he did not back up his first 3 slam year with another one in a much more competitve time..

It is because Federer set the bar so high that everyone thinks Nadal will have all these multi slam seasons. He couldnt back up his first multi slam season in 2008 with another in 2009, who says he will in 2011??

It's bizzare quite frankly. Fedtard, Nadaltard, or anything in between, it seems clear to me, without Federer doing what he has in the last 7 years, nobody would think someone could back up a 3 slam season with multiple slams the next year, it would be being heralded as unlikely at best, certainly not a probability.

Ya digg?

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"I did not play my best tennis, no? And..that is what enable him to win..to win this match no? "